Typographic Tree of Life Mural

Finished! I wish the lighting was better - and not taken from my ipod!

Artwork of Michael Sowa

I've been a fan of German artist Michael Sowa's work since I first noticed his paintings in the 2001 French film Amelie. Sowa is well known for his whimsical, surrealist paintings. They often depict animals and people in reverse roles.

He has illustrated a number of books in English and German. Little King December, a story by Axel Hacke and illustrated by Michael Sowa is a beautiful story about two polar opposite worlds. The story has a mix of Lewis Carroll and Kafka's upside down upsurdities - and is a wonderful read.

Another book Sowa illustrated is Esterhazy: The Rabbit Prince by Irene Dische and Hans Magnus Enzenberger. This is an imaginative story about an European family of rabbits. The youngest bunny, Esterhazy, is sent to Berlin — a place with a Wall separating the city, "a little bit like Kansas City, one part of which belongs to the state of Kansas, the other to the state of Missouri ... only not so friendly."

Sowa's Ark is a compilation of 50 works of art. It was first published in 1996 and reprinted in 2006. All the paintings share simplistic titles and humorous subjects. Some of the backgrounds in Sowa's works remind me of Hudson River School paintings. It is striking to see the contradictions of normalcy mixed with the outlandish. In 2010, the artist printed wall calendars which can be purchased here.

Here are some samples of Michael Sowa's art.

Illustrator Beatriz Martin-Vidal

Take a look at Spanish illustrator, Beatriz Martin-Vidal's beautifully evocative illustrations. She has many published works including 'Secrets' & 'My baby Love' and a number of myths & fairy tales. Among them is the story of 'Little Red Riding Hood'. I love that the artist has updated the red cape to a red hoodie sweatshirt! The little girl's expressions are full of innocence and Beatriz has a great eye for perspective. She really knows how to layout a page and grab the reader's attention.

Ms. Martin-Vidal uses colored pencils, watercolors, inks and Photoshop in her work. They contain gorgeous textures and layers while still maintaining a sketchy, spontaneous quality. With each piece of artwork, I'm immediately drawn into the scene and the characters. What are they up to and why?

I hope you enjoy her illustrations as much as I do!

My Favorite Picture Book Right Now...

This is my first official blog entry!

With my abundance of free time - since I'm only working 3 days a week in the office - I've started to pursue other interests I've long held off. Specifically, my love of children's books and mural art. I will be adding weekly updates about new findings on these two topics - as well as uploading my own works in progress. I hope that will keep me motivated!

So a few months back I came across a wonderfully updated version of 'There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly'by designer and illustrator Jeremy Holmes. The book is published by Chronicle Books and you can purchase a copy here. There are just so many things to love about this book. First off, this is a book that has it all! Pop up mechanics, custom die-cuts and a long custom shape with a gate fold opening...it's great to see when books are produced at such high quality. When you flip through, each page is beautifully illustrated with cut-out collages, vintage papers, and detailed line work. As you read each line, the reader is taken on a journey through the pages of her stomach, where you can see all the crazy things the old lady swallows. When you reach the end of the rhyme, the old lady's eyes close! I must also add that I liked the type choice for this book. Mrs. Eaves was one of my favorite fonts for awhile some years back, and it really fits with his vintage/folk style.

This is really a little piece of art to add to your book shelf.

If you're interested in learning more about the production & mechanics of the book, check it out here.